New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Dongimpetresta 19’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongimpetresta 19’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; medium to large bright red and light purplish pink bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIMPETRESTA 19’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongimpetresta 19’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Koka, Ethiopia and Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in November, 2012 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN10-001649-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN09-006631-004, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in April, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongimpetresta 19’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongimpetresta 19’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Medium to large bright red and light purplish pink bi-colored         flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright red and         light purplish pink in color whereas flowers of plants of the         female parent selection are dull red and light pink in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of male parent selection in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright red and light purplish pink in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are red and dark pink in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dueptbus 14’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,780. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Dueptbus14’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as vigorous as plants of         ‘Dueptbus14’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Dueptbus14’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright red and         light purplish pink in color whereas flowers of plants of         ‘Dueptbus14’ are bright red and red purple in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagfi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,912. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagfi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are dark         greyed purple in color whereas lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Duemagfi’ are dark green in color.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower later than plants of         ‘Duemagfi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Duemagfi’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are bright red and         light purplish pink in color whereas flowers of plants of         ‘Duemagfi’ are light red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimpetresta 19’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimpetresta 19’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimpetresta 19’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN10-001649-001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN09-006631-004, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three to four weeks at temperatures about 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in overall             shape; freely branching habit with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 55 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, stout.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 187A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 187A to 187B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Darker green than N189A; venation, close to 187B. Developing             and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 187B;             venation, close to 187B.         -   Petiole length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 187B to 187C.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 187B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single oval to rounded             axillary flowers that are undulate; freely flowering habit,             typically about eight to ten open flowers and flower buds             per lateral branch; flowers positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane, flowers typically face mostly upright to             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Petals, close to 53B; sepals, close to 187A             to 187B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.3 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 2.4 cm. Length, lower petals: About             2.6 cm. Width, banner petal: About 3.8 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 2.5 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.75 cm.             Shape, banner petal: Broadly cordate. Shape, lateral and             lower petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals: Cordate. Base, all             petals: Cuneate. Margin, all petals: Mostly entire with             occasional and random indentations. Texture and luster, all             petals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, all petals, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color, all petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Centers, close to between 45A and             46B; towards the margins, close to 55C; venation, similar to             lamina; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Centers, close to between             45C and 46C; towards the margins, close to 55C; venation,             similar to lamina; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepal length:             About 1.1 cm. Lateral sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal             shape: Elongated deltoid. Lateral sepal apex: Cuspidate.             Lateral sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire.             Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Lateral sepal texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Lateral sepal             color, upper surface: Close to 157B to 157C. Lateral sepal             color, lower surface: Close to 178A. Spur length: About             4.75 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2.5 mm; at apex,             about 1 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close to 54B; distally, close             to 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 5 mm by 1 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 11D;             proximally, close to N57A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimpetresta 19’ as illustrated and described. 